Industry Speaks
Construction Chemical
Rajesh Joshi
Managing Director
STP Limited
It is important for global
construction chemical
researchers to work in the
direction of evolving materials
which can play a significant role
in the recycling market as well.
CE&CR: How do you envision the future of
construction and how will it be a game changer
for your company? Also, what new segments in the
construction chemicals can the industry foresee in
the coming years?
Rajesh Joshi: Construction Chemicals are bound to play
a significant role in the times to come. For construction
to become sustainable, it is inevitable that incorporation
of innovative materials and methods are adopted. This
gives an opportunity and challenge for STP to mark its
footprints in a similar fashion.
This apart, a whole lot of infrastructure and building
which were developed in the last century will show
feasibility towards further extension of useful life and/
or to be retrofitted for enhancement of its prevailing
capacity, will require a plethora of material and
systems that a construction chemicals company can
offer. STP is geared to take up and cater as a one-stop
solution provider to the rehabilitation industry with
economical and dependable solutions, benchmarked
with international standards.
6 CE&CR December 2021
In terms of new segment areas, just as in a new construction or repairing
process, chemicals can contribute significantly while recycling C&D wastes.
The global construction and demolition waste recycling market was valued at
$127 Billion in 2019 and estimated to reach $149 Billion by 2027, with a CAGR of
2.7% in these 7 years. It is important for global construction chemical researchers
to work in the direction of evolving materials which can play a significant role in
the recycling market as well.
CE&CR: With respect to transformational industry dynamics, what are
your views about adaptive and innovative Next-Gen tools, integrated new
Workforce typology and new normal EPC models?
Rajesh Joshi: Dynamicity of the market poses challenge for any progressive
industry, especially in the post-Covid era. From availability of work to availability
of raw materials from multiple global sources is a day-to-day uphill climb which
organizations are confronting. While, keeping in mind the unprecedented
happenings, it is important for an organized sector to streamline routine decision
making into a systematic logical format requiring least human intervention.
This is possible through meticulous understanding of existing system and
prudent choice towards modernizing and digitalizing every possible process. STP,
in a phase wise manner, has initiated this and is transiting to become a more
digitalized organization. Such interventional transformation will not only make
the system more efficient but will also take off major stress from the workforce.
Growing economies, including India, has acted prudently in last decades
to design EPC systems that are more reliant and efficient. The land connectivity
network has come up with practical BOT models for fast and efficient execution
of work. However, at any given point of time there is always scope for upgradation
of quality standards in the prevailing EPC model, which should be constantly
expanded to have a tighter control over the work produced.
CE&CR: The global trend is to achieve sustainable goals in all the sectors
contributing to the economy; with respect to that; will green construction
takeover traditional methods in the future? If so, how will it happen and how
does your company take strides in the process?
Rajesh Joshi: We must accept that a complete definition of a green construction
is still vague in our industry. Various aspects are highlighted through a variety
of concepts under the green umbrella. Scientifically, it can be considered as a
combination of these concepts incorporated during the conception of a project
contributing in varied proportions, like,
a. Recycled Products (Construction materials)
b. HSE Standards (Materials & Methods)
c. Energy Consumption (Water, Electricity, etc. during and after construction)
d. Durability (Estimated total service life)
e. Recyclability (Ability to be reused, once redundant)
STP has taken special initiative to develop and promote such products that
presents safer working conditions for the labour force while being less aggressive
to the environment. In addition, every technology that adds durability to the
concrete structure with minimal environmental footprints, contributes largely to
the broader cause of creating a sustainable system.